Newsletter
WATER LINE
Dedicated to the efficient development & conservation of ground water in Wyoming!
Thoughts on the 2011 WWWA Annual Convention
By WWWA Vice President Jason Watson
If you missed the 2011 WWWA Convention you might have missed more than Continuing Education points, good food, and those pens, pencils, notebooks, hats, and coffee cups that one loads up on at any trade show.
In a post- convention critique, attendees were asked: What did you like most about the 2011 convention? Numerous people said they liked the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with fellow contractors and other industry professionals. It’s helpful to know that the challenges you face in your business are often very similar to what other folks in our industry experience.
An experienced contractor and longtime Board Member of the WWWA described the convention as a fellowship. I thought about what the word fellowship meant. So here it is.
Definition of FELLOWSHIP (Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary)
1:
companionship,
company
2 a: community of interest, activity, feeling, or experience
b:
the state of being a fellow or associate
3: a company of equals or friends: association
4: the quality or state of being comradely
He was right on. A WWWA convention is definitely a community of common interests and experiences. Only at a water well convention do you have immediate access to a concentration of industry professionals. Towns in Wyoming and western states in general are separated by miles and miles of barren and rugged terrain. It’s often quite a few gallons of diesel to visit a fellow well driller at his shop. If you would like to visit a pump installer, to show him your latest product, you might want to do it before sunrise or after sunset. The opportunities abound to meet industry engineers, contractors, manufacturers and suppliers.
The WWWA Board has, over the years, received many compliments on the positive atmosphere at our convention. This is a tribute to you; members and attendees. People outside our state have said they notice a friendly, open, and inviting attitude. I might call it a Wyoming attitude. It’s a good place to finally meet that aggressive competitor, a prior sales account, or former employee. Nothing beats being able to put a face with a name.
I hope you would consider attending the 2012 WWWA Convention. One can easily record a year’s worth of continuing education in less than two full days. You will find plenty of people to tell your “war stories” to if you are willing to listen to their bad jokes. And you won’t go away hungry. The 2011 convention received several compliments on the quality of the food.
Will you need a sack of drilling mud or a 3 HP deluxe control box while you’re working out of town on your next project? That competitor you just met at the convention might be able to save you a lot of trouble.
I hope 2011 is safe and profitable to you all.
More Convention Highlights!
Scholarship Winners
Your Board of Directors determined to establish a scholarship fund that is generated from the auction money receipts at the annual convention. This year 7 awards of $500 were made available to:
Parker Blakeley - Glenrock Amber
Christianson - Lusk
Katie Kipp - Powell
Rebecca Lashmett - Lusk
Carmen Bonilla - Jackson Hole Jon Urman
- Gillette
Jerit DeGering – Lusk
Congratulations!
_______________________________________________________________________
Elections Results
During the Wyoming Water
well Association annual membership meeting on Thursday, January 27,
newly-elected 2011 WWWA officers were installed; they include:
President: John Midkiff, Midkiff Well Service - Lusk
Vice-President: Jason Watson, Watson Well Service – Laramie
Secretary/Treasurer: Travis Hueller, Premier Powerplants & Pumps – Farson
Area III Director: Don Scogin, D & N Drilling – Thermopolis
2010 WWWA award recipients
At the annual awards
banquet, Lou Dickinson of Lou’s Drilling, Riverton was presented the
Member of
the Year
award, Derek Berube and Randy Woodland of Franklin Electric, the Al
Eller Outstanding
Service
Award,
Mike Havely, Havely Consulting of Torrington, the Distinguished
Service Award and
Marti Hubbs, Executive Secretary, the Presidential Award.
Spring Continuing Education Class
If enough interest is
shown, WWWA will host an Electrical Test Preparation Class with Steve
Snook
as
the instructor. A May or June date can be set with the location in
Casper. If you are interested in
the class please RSVP to
the WWWA office and Marti will set the date and time.
Phone 307-788-1530 or email
wywaterwell@actcom.net.
Please let us know ASAP so I can make the arrangements. Thank you.